Identifying Hydraulic Leaks

Being able to identify hydraulic leaks the moment they happen is very important for any wash owner. Failure to notice a leak could leave customers’ vehicles coming out of the tunnel with an oily film on them, and can cause damage to wrap cloth. Whenever you check wash quality make sure you don’t see any marks like the ones below.

This oily film is a clear sign of a hydraulic leak. If you notice one, you may want to consider shutting down production to fix the leak immediately before the cloth gets to much hydraulic fluid on it and cannot be salvaged.

When looking for a hydraulic leak in the tunnel you should check every single hydraulic fitting, check the hose, check for puddles of red fluid under any cloth, and check the hydraulic motors–especially around the shaft seal. Sometimes the fluid may leak out of the shaft seal and go down the brush drop down, so be sure this is dry and not oily.

The hydraulic oil low float, when set up properly, should stop the hydraulics from running if the fluid gets to low. This is why its important to keep the fluid level set to the absolute minimum required for the sensor to float.

If hydraulic fluid gets into the cloth the best way to clean it is using Tommy 360c and rubbing it into the cloth material, then power washing it afterwards. You may have to do this several times to remove all the hydraulic fluid. Be sure to wear the proper Personal Safety Equipment during work.